The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is proud to announce the launch of three-vessel timetable for 2026/7, due to go on sale from 21st November 2025.
Featuring enhanced services on all of its core routes, and a major investment in services to the island of Ireland, this is a schedule that is designed to enhance the attractiveness of the Isle of Man as a destination for visitors and business, and enhance islanders’ quality of life by providing vital links to the major ports around the Irish Sea.
It is the first time in over 15 years the Isle of Man has had a regular schedule outside of TT operated by three vessels.
The stand out feature for many will be the use of former flagship Ben-my-Chree to pilot a massively enhanced schedule to Dublin and, following the successful trial last month, Larne. In peak season this service will see five sailings a week, and throughout the off-season Ben-my-Chree will provide a regular connection to Ireland with three sailings a week to Larne.
Although primarily targeted at connectivity for passengers, the use of Ben-my-Chree will allow for the development of freight and commercial links between the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland and vice versa.
With Ben handling the Irish traffic, Manannan and Manxman are freed to increase the number of sailings on the Company’s core routes, helping to support economic growth.
Manannan’s Liverpool schedule will feature additional daytime sailings through the summer months and it will maintain two sailings a day into early September, responding to increasing demand seen in recent years for additional connections to Liverpool via the new Isle of Man Ferry Terminal.
As part of the Company’s commitment to putting the customer first, this service will be kept under review and adapted to demand. The Company will utilise the opportunity to increase the number of sailings to Liverpool in September if demand is there.
Manxman, the Company’s flagship will serve exclusively on the Heysham run in peak season, but will take up the reins of the Liverpool weekend sailings between November and the end of March to ensure the Isle of Man continues to have a year-round direct connection to the largest urban area around the Irish Sea.
The Steam Packet Company has responded to the popularity of the winter Liverpool day trips and increased the number in the schedule. To ensure this doesn’t unduly impact freight patterns, Ben-my-Chree will be used to provide support to Manxman on the Heysham route where appropriate.
The Company is further supporting a focus on growth by extending its popular 10% off Flexi Fares and Kids Go Free initiatives launched in October 2024. Together these two initiatives have helped to drive volumes of passengers throughout 2025 and increase the opportunity for more passengers to enjoy the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s services.
The Company is making further investment in the success of the new schedule by planning a substantial interior refurbishment of Ben-my-Chree to modernise the public areas and enhance facilities for passengers using the routes to Ireland. This will ensure all of the public areas on the Company’s vessels meet modern standards, with Manannan’s lounges having been refurbished through the winters of 2023/4 and 24/5.
The schedule will go live on the website from 21st November at 09:30hrs and runs up to late May 2027.
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Managing Director Brian Thomson commented, ‘Following on from the pricing initiatives unveiled last year, the growth in ferry travel has been very positive. We’re committed to supporting a growth agenda for the Isle of Man and we feel this is the good use of our resources to do that.’
‘My team has worked very hard on pulling together the business case for the increased services to our neighbouring islands and we want to make a success out of this. We, as a Company, are investing heavily in growing our business and, as a result, the economic and social opportunities for the Isle of Man.’
‘What I would say though, is this is a case of use it or lose it. We cannot, as a Company, afford to back an initiative that loses money over the long term. We’re making a two-year commitment to the new routes to Ireland today. We’ll be giving it our best shot and we’re looking for support from the business community and residents of the Isle of Man to make sure it succeeds.’